Paestum

This amazing site features three ancient Greek temples (each of which look like the Parthenon in Athens). The museum and surrounding area also have ancient Roman ruins, statues, and art. Also interesting is a paleochristian church, right next to the tourist information office (which is to the left of the museum, as you face it).  Ruins open from 8:45 AM until 1 hour before sunset (last admission 1 hour before that).  For more information, check out the official website, Wikipedia entry, Stars & Stripes article, and an excellent Sacred Destinations website.  T-Sat 9-1 and 4-7, Sun 9-1, €4 for archeological park, €6.50 for combination with museum, free with Artecard, Via Magna Grecia 919, 082-881-1023, N 40.99561 E 14.20438.

Restaurants

The following restaurants are listed in guidebooks:

• Ristorante Nettuno - They seem to have raised their prices since Rick Steves wrote about them, as their €12 fixed price lunch is now €22, but it's still a nice place.
• Agriturismo Seliano - Recommended by Rick Steves and Time Out, they are situated about 2 km north of the Paestum ruins and offer lunch as well as rooms.  www.agriturismoseliano.it, 082-872-3634, closed off season (Nov-Feb).  Arthur Schwartz (no relation to Wikinapoli's founder!) runs weeklong foodie tours and cooking classes based here.
• Nonna Scepa - Recommended by Time Out as a good restaurant, about 4 km north of the ruins.  www.nonnasceppa.com, 082-885-1064, Via Laura 53, Capaccio, closed Thurs during off season.

Getting There/Parking

• Driving from Naples takes around 2 hours.  Follow signs for A3-Salerno, and then take the Battipaglia exit (SS18), which leads you almost straight to Paestum (there are brown signs that direct you once you get close).  There is free parking on the southern end of the ruins, but you can only buy tickets at the north end (so the best plan is to park in the south, walk past the touristy souvenier shops to the ticket window, see the museum/church, and then check out the ruins walking south, exiting at the parking lot)
• An alternative is to take a bus or train.  Regular trains run from Naples 11 times a day, taking between 1.5-2 hours.  You'll want a Unicocampania "Fascia 7," which costs €5.30 one way.  Alternatively (say, if you're coming to or from the Amalfi coast) you can take a train or bus from Salerno.  When you get out of the Paestum station, walk west for about half a kilometer to reach the ruins (go straight out of the station - you'll see the old city wall directly in front of you). Get your return tickets before you get to Paestum - there is no ticket office there.
  

• Domus Laeta - 300-year old agriturismo not far from Paestum